System and method for facilitating short-range wireless communications between a mobile wireless device and an auxiliary system

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a system and method for facilitating short-range wireless communications between a mobile wireless device and an auxiliary device. The wireless device includes a short-range transceiver for communicating with an auxiliary device; a signal module for providing a mode control signal; and, a control module for controllably shifting a short-range transceiver between a power saver mode and a search mode based on the mode control signal received from the signal module. When in the search mode, the short-range transceiver is operable to search for the auxiliary device to communicate therewith. When in a power saver mode, the short-range transceiver is not operable to search for the auxiliary device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/231,384, filed Sep. 13, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/553,139, filed on Sep. 3, 2009, which iscontinuation of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/841,441, filedon May 10, 2004. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/841,441 issued topatent as U.S. Pat. No. 7,603,145. U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/553,139 issued to patent as U.S. Pat. No. 8,032,190. The entirecontents of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/231,384, U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/553,139, and U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/841,441, are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wireless communicationdevices. More particularly, it relates to short-range communicationbetween wireless communication devices and auxiliary systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless devices, with or without advanced data communicationcapabilities, are increasingly ubiquitous. Such wireless devices includedata messaging devices, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, cellulartelephones with data messaging capabilities, wireless Internetappliances, and data communication devices (with or without telephonycapabilities). With the increasing ubiquity of such wireless devices, itbecomes increasingly important to provide interoperability between thesewireless devices and other electronic systems with which the wirelessdevices interacts.

For example, it is important that a wireless device, such as a datamessaging device, be interoperable with the personal computer of theuser to enable the user to operate from either the data messaging deviceor the personal computer, and to switch back and forth between usingeach device. For this to happen, the data messaging device and thepersonal computer should preferably automatically update the informationstored on each to reflect user operations on the other device. In thecase of other wireless devices, such as, for example, a cellulartelephone, it is desirable that the cellular telephone be able tointeract with other electronic systems, such as the audio system of anautomobile. Thus, a user should preferably be able to use a cellulartelephone via the microphone and speakers of the automobile, rather thanthe headset of the cellular telephone itself. This frees the user'shands for driving, and makes using the cellular telephone moreconvenient.

The interoperability of wireless devices with other electronic systemsshould not interfere with stand-alone functions of the wireless device,and should be as automatic as possible, such that user input is reducedto a minimum. There remains a need to increase the interoperability ofwireless devices with other electronic systems while minimizing anyinconvenience to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there isprovided a wireless device comprising: (a) a short-range transceiver forcommunicating with an auxiliary device; (b) a signal module forproviding a mode control signal; and, (c) a control module forcontrollably shifting the short-range transceiver between a power savermode and a search mode based on the mode control signal received fromthe signal module.

When in the search mode, the short-range transceiver is operable tosearch for the auxiliary device to communicate therewith. When in thepower saver mode, the short-range transceiver is not operable to searchfor the auxiliary device.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this first aspect of theinvention, the signal module comprises a single-action user-input meansfor, in response to performance of only a single action, instructing thesignal module to send a mode control to the control module.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of this first aspectof the invention, the signal module comprises a detector for detectingwhen the auxiliary device is in close proximity, the signal module beingoperable to send a first signal when the detector detects that theauxiliary device is in close proximity and a second signal when thedetector detects that the auxiliary device is not in close proximity.The control module is operable to shift the short-range transceiver fromthe power saver mode to the search mode when the first signal isreceived from the signal module, and from the search mode to the powersaver mode when the second signal is received from the signal module.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of controlling short-range wireless communication between awireless device and an auxiliary device. The wireless device includes adetector for detecting a proximate device indicator. The methodcomprises providing the proximate device indicator near to the auxiliarydevice to indicate proximity of the auxiliary device to the wirelessdevice, and initiating short-range communication between the wirelessdevice and the auxiliary device based on the proximate device indicatorindicating proximity of the auxiliary device to the wireless device.

Preferably, the proximate device indicator comprises a magnet, and thedetector is operable to detect the magnet.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a wireless system comprising: (a) an auxiliary device having ashort-range communication module; (b) a proximate device indicator forindicating proximity of the auxiliary device, wherein the proximitydevice indicator is located proximate to the auxiliary device; and, (c)a wireless device. The wireless device comprises: (i) a short-rangetransceiver for communicating with the auxiliary device; (ii) a detectorfor detecting when the proximate device indicator is in close proximity;and, (iii) a control module for controllably shifting the short-rangetransceiver from a power saver mode to a search mode when the detectordetects that the proximate device indicator is in close proximity, andfor controllably shifting the short-range transceiver from a search modeto a power saver mode when the detector detects that the proximatedevice indicator is not in close proximity. When in the search mode, theshort-range transceiver is operable to search for the short-rangecommunication module of the auxiliary device to communicate therewith.When in the power saver mode, the short-range transceiver is notoperable to search for the short-range communication module of theauxiliary device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show moreclearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made,by way of example, to the accompanying drawings which aid inunderstanding an embodiment of the present invention and in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile station in accordance with anaspect of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a communication subsystem component of themobile station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a node of a wireless network;

FIG. 4 a is a block diagram of a short-range communication subsystem ofthe mobile station of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 b is a block diagram of a first variant of a signal module of theshort-range communication subsystem of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 c is a block diagram of a second variant of the signal module ofthe short-range communication subsystem of FIG. 4;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an audio system of an automobile, togetherwith a magnet situated nearby in accordance with a further aspect of thepresent invention; and,

FIG. 6, in a block diagram, illustrates a short-range wireless networkin accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Aspects of the present invention make use of a mobile station. A mobilestation is a two-way communication device, possibly including advanceddata communication capabilities, having the capability to communicatewith other computer systems. A mobile station may also include thecapability for voice communications. Depending on the functionalityprovided by a mobile station, it may be referred to as a data messagingdevice, a two-way pager, a wireless e-mail device, a cellular telephone,a cellular telephone with data messaging capabilities, a wirelessInternet appliance, or a data communication device (with or withouttelephony capabilities). A mobile station communicates with otherdevices through a network of transceiver stations.

To aid the reader in understanding the structure of a mobile station andhow it communicates with other devices we refer now to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Referring first to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a mobile station is showngenerally as 100. Mobile station 100 comprises a number of components,the controlling component being microprocessor 102. Microprocessor 102controls overall operation of mobile station 100. Communicationfunctions, including data and voice communications, are performedthrough communication subsystem 104. Communication subsystem 104receives messages from and sends messages to a wireless network 200. Inan embodiment of the present invention, communication subsystem 104 isconfigured in accordance with the Global System for Mobile Communication(GSM) and General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) standards. The GSM/GPRSwireless network is used worldwide and it is expected these standardswill be superseded eventually by Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE)and Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS). New standardsare still being defined, but it is believed they will have similaritiesto the network behaviour described herein, and it will also beunderstood that the invention is intended to use any other suitablestandards that are developed in the future. The wireless link connectingcommunication subsystem 104 with network 200 represents one or moredifferent Radio Frequency (RF) channels, operating according to definedprotocols specified for GSM/GPRS communications. With newer networkprotocols, these channels are capable of supporting both circuitswitched voice communications and packet switched data communications.

Microprocessor 102 also interacts with additional subsystems such as aRandom Access Memory (RAM) 106, flash memory 108, display 110, auxiliaryinput/output (I/O) subsystem 112, serial port 114, keyboard 116, speaker118, microphone 120, short-range communications 122 and other devices124.

Some of the subsystems of mobile station 100 performcommunication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may provide“resident” or on-device functions. By way of example, display 110 andkeyboard 116 may be used for both communication-related functions, suchas entering a text message for transmission over network 200, anddevice-resident functions such as a calculator or task list. Operatingsystem software used by microprocessor 102 is typically stored in apersistent store such as flash memory 108, which may alternatively be aread-only memory (ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system, specificdevice applications, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into avolatile store such as RAM 106.

Mobile station 100 may send and receive communication signals overnetwork 200 after required network registration or activation procedureshave been completed. Network access is associated with a subscriber oruser of a mobile station 100. To identify a subscriber, mobile station100 requires a Subscriber Identity Module or “SIM” card 126 to beinserted in a SIM interface 128 in order to communicate with a network.SIM 126 is one type of a conventional “smart card” used to identify asubscriber of mobile station 100 and to personalize the mobile station100, among other things. Without SIM 126, mobile station 100 is notfully operational for communication with network 200. By inserting SIM126 into SIM interface 128, a subscriber can access all subscribedservices. Services could include: web browsing and messaging such asemail, voice mail, Short Message Service (SMS), and Multimedia MessagingServices (MMS). More advanced services may include: point of sale, fieldservice and sales force automation. SIM 126 includes a processor andmemory for storing information. Once SIM 126 is inserted in SIMinterface 128, it is coupled to microprocessor 102. In order to identifythe subscriber, SIM 126 contains some user parameters such as anInternational Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI). An advantage of usingSIM 126 is that a subscriber is not necessarily bound by any singlephysical mobile station. SIM 126 may store additional subscriberinformation for a mobile station as well, including datebook (orcalendar) information and recent call information.

Mobile station 100 is a battery-powered device and includes a batteryinterface 132 for receiving one or more rechargeable batteries 130.Battery interface 132 is coupled to a regulator (not shown) whichassists battery 130 in providing power V+to mobile station 100. Althoughcurrent technology makes use of a battery, future technologies such asmicro fuel cells may provide the power to mobile station 100.

Microprocessor 102, in addition to its operating system functions,enables execution of software applications on mobile station 100. A setof applications which control basic device operations, including dataand voice communication applications will normally be installed onmobile station 100 during its manufacture. Another application that maybe loaded onto mobile station 100 would be a personal informationmanager (PIM). A PIM has functionality to organize and manage data itemsof interest to a subscriber, such as, but not limited to, e-mail,calendar events, voice mails, appointments, and task items. A PIMapplication has the ability to send and receive data items via wirelessnetwork 200. In one embodiment, PIM data items are seamlesslyintegrated, synchronized, and updated via wireless network 200 with themobile station subscriber's corresponding data items stored and/orassociated with a host computer system. This functionality creates amirrored host computer on mobile station 100 with respect to such items.This is especially advantageous where the host computer system is themobile station subscriber's office computer system.

Additional applications may also be loaded onto mobile station 100through network 200, auxiliary I/O subsystem 112, serial port 114,short-range communications subsystem 122, or any other suitablesubsystem 124. This flexibility in application installation increasesthe functionality of mobile station 100 and may provide enhancedon-device functions, communication-related functions, or both. Forexample, secure communication applications may enable electroniccommerce functions and other such financial transactions to be performedusing mobile station 100.

Serial port 114 enables a subscriber to set preferences through anexternal device or software application and extends the capabilities ofmobile station 100 by providing for information or software downloads tomobile station 100 other than through a wireless communication network.The alternate download path may, for example, be used to load anencryption key onto mobile station 100 through a direct and thusreliable and trusted connection to provide secure device communication.

Short-range communications subsystem 122 provides for communicationbetween mobile station 100 and different systems or devices, without theuse of network 200. For example, subsystem 122 may include an infrareddevice and associated circuits and components for short-rangecommunication. Examples of short range communication would includestandards developed by the Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Bluetooth,and the 802.11 family of standards developed by IEEE.

In use, a received signal such as a text message, an e-mail message, orweb page download will be processed by communication subsystem 104 andinput to microprocessor 102. Microprocessor 102 will then process thereceived signal for output to display 110 or alternatively to auxiliaryI/O subsystem 112. A subscriber may also compose data items, such ase-mail messages, for example, using keyboard 116 in conjunction withdisplay 110 and possibly auxiliary I/O subsystem 112. Auxiliarysubsystem 112 may include devices such as: a touch screen, mouse, trackball, infrared fingerprint detector, or a roller wheel with dynamicbutton pressing capability. Keyboard 116 is an alphanumeric keyboardand/or telephone-type keypad. A composed item may be transmitted overnetwork 200 through communication subsystem 104.

For voice communications, the overall operation of mobile station 100 issubstantially similar, except that the received signals would be outputto speaker 118, and signals for transmission would be generated bymicrophone 120. Alternative voice or audio I/O subsystems, such as avoice message recording subsystem, may also be implemented on mobilestation 100. Although voice or audio signal output is accomplishedprimarily through speaker 118, display 110 may also be used to provideadditional information such as the identity of a calling party, durationof a voice call, or other voice call related information.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of the communication subsystemcomponent 104 of FIG. 1 is shown. Communication subsystem 104 comprisesa receiver 150, a transmitter 152, one or more embedded or internalantenna elements 154, 156, Local Oscillators (LOs) 158, and a processingmodule such as a Digital Signal Processor (DSP) 160.

The particular design of communication subsystem 104 is dependent uponthe network 200 in which mobile station 100 is intended to operate. Thusit should be understood that the design illustrated in FIG. 2 servesonly as one example. Signals received by antenna 154 through network 200are input to receiver 154, which may perform such common receiverfunctions as signal amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering,channel selection, and analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion. A/Dconversion of a received signal allows more complex communicationfunctions such as demodulation and decoding to be performed in DSP 160.In a similar manner, signals to be transmitted are processed, includingmodulation and encoding, by DSP 160. These DSP-processed signals areinput to transmitter 152 for digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion,frequency up conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission overnetwork 200 via antenna 156. DSP 160 not only processes communicationsignals, but also provides for receiver and transmitter control. Forexample, the gains applied to communication signals in receiver 150 andtransmitter 152 may be adaptively controlled through automatic gaincontrol algorithms implemented in DSP 160.

The wireless link between mobile station 100 and a network 200 maycontain one or more different channels, typically different radiofrequency (RF) channels, and associated protocols used between mobilestation 100 and network 200. A RF channel is a limited resource thatmust be conserved, typically due to limits in overall bandwidth andlimited battery power of mobile station 100.

When mobile station 100 is fully operational, transmitter 152 istypically keyed or turned on only when it is sending to network 200 andis otherwise turned off to conserve resources. Similarly, receiver 150is periodically turned off to conserve power until it is needed toreceive signals or information (if at all) during designated timeperiods.

Referring now to FIG. 3 a block diagram of a node of a wireless networkis shown as 202. In practice, network 200 comprises one or more nodes202. Mobile station 100 communicates with a node 202 within wirelessnetwork 200. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, node 202 is configured inaccordance with General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) and Global Systemsfor Mobile (GSM) technologies. Node 202 includes a base stationcontroller (BSC) 204 with an associated tower station 206, a PacketControl Unit (PCU) 208 added for GPRS support in GSM, a Mobile SwitchingCenter (MSC) 210, a Home Location Register (HLR) 212, a Visitor LocationRegistry (VLR) 214, a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) 216, a GatewayGPRS Support Node (GGSN) 218, and a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol(DHCP) 220. This list of components is not meant to be an exhaustivelist of the components of every node 202 within a GSM/GPRS network, butrather a list of components that are commonly used in communicationsthrough network 200.

In a GSM network, MSC 210 is coupled to BSC 204 and to a landlinenetwork, such as a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) 222 tosatisfy circuit switched requirements. The connection through PCU 208,SGSN 216 and GGSN 218 to the public or private network (Internet) 224represents the data path for GPRS capable mobile stations. In a GSMnetwork extended with GPRS capabilities, BSC 204 also contains a PacketControl Unit (PCU) 208 that connects to SGSN 216 to controlsegmentation, radio channel allocation and to satisfy packet switchedrequirements. To track mobile station location and availability for bothcircuit switched and packet switched management, HLR 212 is sharedbetween MSC 210 and SGSN 216. Access to VLR 214 is controlled by MSC210.

Station 206 is a fixed transceiver station. Station 206 and BSC 204together form the fixed transceiver equipment. The fixed transceiverequipment provides wireless network coverage for a particular coveragearea commonly referred to as a “cell”. The fixed transceiver equipmenttransmits communication signals to and receives communication signalsfrom mobile stations within its cell via station 206. The fixedtransceiver equipment normally performs such functions as modulation andpossibly encoding and/or encryption of signals to be transmitted to themobile station in accordance with particular, usually predetermined,communication protocols and parameters, under control of its controller.The fixed transceiver equipment similarly demodulates and possiblydecodes and decrypts, if necessary, any communication signals receivedfrom mobile station 100 within its cell. Communication protocols andparameters may vary between different nodes. For example, one node mayemploy a different modulation scheme and operate at differentfrequencies than other nodes.

For all mobile stations 100 registered with a specific network,permanent configuration data such as a user profile is stored in HLR212. HLR 212 also contains location information for each registeredmobile station and can be queried to determine the current location of amobile station. MSC 210 is responsible for a group of location areas andstores the data of the mobile stations currently in its area ofresponsibility in VLR 214. Further VLR 214 also contains information onmobile stations that are visiting other networks. The information in VLR214 includes part of the permanent mobile station data transmitted fromHLR 212 to VLR 214 for faster access. By moving additional informationfrom a remote HLR 212 node to VLR 214, the amount of traffic betweenthese nodes can be reduced so that voice and data services can beprovided with faster response times and at the same time requiring lessuse of computing resources.

SGSN 216 and GGSN 218 are elements added for GPRS support; namely packetswitched data support, within GSM. SGSN 216 and MSC 210 have similarresponsibilities within wireless network 200 by keeping track of thelocation of each mobile station 100. SGSN 216 also performs securityfunctions and access control for data traffic on network 200. GGSN 218provides inter networking connections with external packet switchednetworks and connects to one or more SGSN's 216 via an Internet Protocol(IP) backbone networked operated within the network 200. During normaloperations a given mobile station 100 must perform a “GPRS Attach” toacquire an IP address and to access data services. This requirement isnot present in circuit switched voice channels as ISDN addresses areused for routing incoming and outgoing calls. Currently, all GPRScapable networks use private, dynamically assigned IP addresses, thusrequiring a DHCP server 220 connected to the GGSN 218. There are manymechanisms for dynamic IP assignment, including using a combination of aRemote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) Server and DHCPserver. Once the GPRS Attach is complete, a logical connection isestablished from a mobile station 100, through PCU 208, and SGSN 216 toan Access Point Node (APN) within GGSN 218. The APN represents a logicalend of an IP tunnel that can either access direct Internet compatibleservices or private network connections. The APN also represents asecurity mechanism for network 200, insofar as each mobile station 100must be assigned to one or more APN's and mobile stations 100 cannotexchange data without first performing a GPRS Attach to an APN that ithas been authorized to use. The APN may be considered to be similar toan Internet domain name such as “myconnection.wireless.com”.

Once the GPRS Attach is complete, a tunnel is created and all traffic isexchanged within standard IP packets using any protocol that can besupported in IP packets. This includes tunneling methods such as IP overIP as in the case with some IPSecurity (IPSec) connections used withVirtual Private Networks (VPN). These tunnels are also referred to asPacket Data Protocol (PDP) Contexts and there are a limited number ofthese available in the network 200. To maximize use of the PDP Contexts,network 200 will run an idle timer for each PDP Context to determine ifthere is a lack of activity. When a mobile station is not using its PDPContext, the PDP Context can be deallocated and the IP address returnedto the IP address pool managed by DHCP server 220.

Referring to FIG. 4 a, the short-range communication subsystem 122 ofthe mobile station 100 is illustrated in more detail in a block diagram.As shown, the short-range communication subsystem 122 comprises a DSP300 linked on the one hand to microprocessor 102, and, on the otherhand, to receiver 302 and transmitter 304. All of the components ofshort-range communication subsystem 122 are powered by battery 130 ofmicroprocessor 102.

As described above, short-range communication subsystem 122 provides forcommunication between mobile station 100 and different systems ordevices without the use of network 200. In some situations, this can behighly advantageous. For example, when mobile station 100 is in thevicinity of a short-range wireless network, information may betransmitted to and received by other wireless devices within thisshort-range wireless network using suitable protocols, such as the802.11 family of standards developed by IEEE. This increases thebandwidth of the information that can be transmitted, and also,depending on the plan of the user of the mobile station 100, cansignificantly reduce user costs arising from Internet access.

However, these advantages come at a price. Specifically, keeping theshort-range communication subsystem 122 active consumes power. As mobilestation 100 is typically battery driven by battery 130, power islimited. Accordingly, a wireless device can typically function using theshort-range communication subsystem 122 for only relatively shortperiods of time before battery 130 will require recharging. For thisreason, it is desirable that short-range communication subsystem 122 beinactive except when circumstances exist for short-range communication.

Typically, short-range communication subsystems of wireless stationswill periodically send out a signal that may be received by anytransceivers operating nearby. If these nearby transceivers respond,then information can be sent from the mobile station to thesetransceivers via the short-range communication subsystem. However, asdescribed above, the periodic transmission of signals from theshort-range communication subsystem will consume limited power.Accordingly, it is desirable that this search by the short-rangecommunication subsystem for nearby transceivers be curtailed unlessthere is some indication that such transceivers are in the vicinity.

One way of achieving this is to have the user of the mobile stationindicate when wireless devices are nearby. However, this can be quitetime-consuming and inconvenient. To address this problem, as shown inFIG. 4 a, short-range communication subsystem 122 comprises a signalmodule 306. The signal module 306 is operable to provide a mode controlsignal to the microprocessor 102. Depending on the mode control signalreceived from the signal module 306, the microprocessor 102 is operableto switch the short-range communication subsystem 122 between a searchmode, in which the short-range communication subsystem 122 searches forsuitable external transceivers, and a power saver mode, in which theshort-range communication subsystem 122 does not look for an externaltransceiver with which to communicate.

Referring to FIG. 4 b, there is illustrated in a block diagram apreferred variant of the signal module 306. According to this variant,the signal module 306 comprises a single-action user input means 306 b.This single-action user input means 306 b may be a button, or voiceactivated, or any other suitable device that can be operated by a singleaction by a user. This variant of the invention may be implemented onsome conventional mobile stations using suitable software. That is, themobile station can be configured by the software to provide an icon orother single-action user-input means 306 b.

When a user of a mobile station is in close proximity to a suitableauxiliary device, the user can, by performing the designated singleaction, indicate this to the signal module 306 via the single-actionuser input means 306 b. This single action might consist of simplyclicking the button, or saying, for example, the word “car” or “mouse”.The signal module 306 then sends a message to microprocessor 102. Themicroprocessor 102 then instructs receiver 302 and transmitter 304 viaDSP 300 to switch to the search mode in which the short-rangecommunication subsystem 122 searches for suitable external transceivers.Conversely, when the user does not wish the mobile station to be in thesearch mode, the user can, by performing the designated single action,send another message to microprocessor 102. Microprocessor 102 can theninstruct short-range communication subsystem 122 to stand down in apower saver mode during which the short-range communication subsystem122 does not look for an external receiver with which to communicate.

Referring to FIG. 4 c, there is illustrated in a block diagram a furtherpreferred variant of the signal module 306 of FIG. 4 a. According tothis embodiment, the signal module 306 comprises a detector 306 c.Detector 306 c is configured to detect the presence of a proximityindicator located near to an external transceiver suitable forcommunicating with transmitter 304 and receiver 302 of short-rangecommunication subsystem 122. When detector 306 c detects the presence ofthe proximity indicator, a message is sent by signal module 306 tomicroprocessor 102. Microprocessor 102 then switches the short-rangecommunication subsystem 122 to the search mode in which the short-rangecommunication subsystem 122 searches for suitable external transceivers.Optionally and conversely, when detector 306 c no longer detects thepresence of a proximity indicator, signal module 306 sends anothersignal to microprocessor 102. Microprocessor 102 then determines that asuitable external transceiver is no longer nearby, and instructsshort-range communication subsystem 122 to stand down in the power savermode during which the short-range communication subsystem 122 does notlook for an external transceiver with which to communicate.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated in a block diagram, anauxiliary wireless system 310 suitable for communicating with theshort-range communication subsystem 122 of the mobile station 100 inaccordance with a further embodiment of the invention. As describedbelow, the auxiliary wireless system can be used via a short-rangecommunication subsystem 122 comprising the signal module 306 of eitherFIG. 4 b or 4 c. For operation with a mobile station 100 including asignal module 306 having a user-input means 306 b as shown in FIG. 4 b,the auxiliary wireless system 310 need have no special features such asthe proximity indicator located nearby. Accordingly, the description ofthe auxiliary wireless system 310 that follows describes the interactionof the components of the system 310 with the short-range communicationsubsystem 122 including the signal module 306 of FIG. 4 c.

As shown in FIG. 5, a magnet 312 is mounted at or nearby the auxiliarysystem 310. The magnet 312 need not be part of the auxiliary system 310provided the magnet 312 is near the auxiliary system 310, whichrelationship has been indicated by drawing the magnet 312 in dashedline. The magnet 312 is detectable by the detector 306 c of the signalmodule 306 of FIG. 4 c.

The auxiliary system 310 shown in FIG. 5 may be, for example, an audiosystem such as a car phone for an automobile. As such, auxiliary system310 comprises a microprocessor 314 and DSP 316. DSP 316 is linked tospeakers 322 and microphone 324. Auxiliary system 310 also includes areceiver 318 and a transmitter 320.

Preferably, the magnet 312 is mounted in a cradle for receiving themobile station 100. In the case of the auxiliary system 310, the mobilestation 100 may be a cellular telephone or a data communication devicewith telephony capabilities. When the mobile station 100 is received inthe cradle, the detector 306 c of the signal module 306 of FIG. 4 c,detects the presence of magnet 312. The signal module 306 then sends amessage to microprocessor 102 indicating that the magnet 312 is present.Microprocessor 102 then instructs short-range communication subsystem122 to shift from the power saver mode to the search mode in which asignal is sent from transmitter 304 to any nearby external receivers.This signal is received by receiver 318. Optionally, at that point, themobile station 100 may determine, from the signal received fromtransmitter 320 of auxiliary system 310, a suitable BlueTooth or otherprofile for communicating with auxiliary system 310. Preferably,however, magnet 312 has a pre-selected configuration, which, whendetected by detector 306 c, and communicated by signal module 306 tomicroprocessor 102, enables microprocessor 102 to determine the suitableBlueTooth or other profile for communicating with auxiliary system 310.Thus, when instructing the short-range communication subsystem 122 tobegin the search mode, microprocessor 102 will also instruct short-rangecommunication subsystem 122 on the particular short-range communicationprofile to use.

Many different methods can be used to configure magnets so as toidentify one or more communication profiles. For example, if the cradleincludes only one magnet, then, perhaps, only a single communicationprofile is identified. However, for cradles optionally including up totwo magnets, three or more communication profiles can be identified. Forexample, if the cradle includes a first magnet, but not a second magnet,then a first communication profile is identified. If the cradle includesa second magnet, but not the first magnet, then a second communicationprofile is identified. If both the first and second magnets are includedin the cradle, then a third communication profile is identified.Alternatively, the location of a single magnet may change betweendifferent locations on the cradle to identify different communicationprofiles.

As a result of this communication between short-range communicationsubsystem 122 and auxiliary system 310, a user of the cell phone (mobilestation 100) will be able to use the mobile station 100 via speakers 322and microphone 324 of auxiliary system 310. That is, audio informationcan be communicated back and forth between the mobile station 100 andthe auxiliary system 310 via short-range communication subsystem 122 andtransmitter 320 and receiver 318 of auxiliary system 310.

The mobile station 100 comprising the short-range communicationsubsystem 122 may also be employed to advantage in other contexts. Forexample, the auxiliary wireless system 310 may comprise a mouse that canbe used with the mobile station 100 via short-range communicationsubsystem 122. In the case of the signal module 306 of FIG. 4 b, theshort-range communication subsystem 122 may be switched between thepower saver mode and the search mode without any automatic proximityindication means being provided near an auxiliary wireless system.However, in the case of the signal module 306 of FIG. 4 c, additionalcomponents may be required for the detector 306 c to detect the presenceof the auxiliary wireless systems. The description of FIG. 6 thatfollows describes a wireless network that may be used without any signalmodule 306 of FIG. 4 b or the signal module 306 of FIG. 4 c.

Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated in a block diagram, a wirelessnetwork 400. The wireless network 400 comprises individual computers406, each having a transceiver 404, as well as wireline network 402connecting wireline computers 408 with a wireline transceiver 404. Inaccordance with an aspect of the present invention, at least one of thetransceivers 404, and preferably all of the transceivers 404, will belocated near to a proximity indicator such as magnet 410. Similar to theembodiment of FIG. 5, when the mobile station 100 is near to one of themagnets 410, the detector 306 c of the short-range communicationsubsystem 122 will detect the presence of the magnet 410, and,preferably, will also detect the particular communication profile to useto communicate with wireless network 400. This profile might, forexample, be a particular profile selected from the IEEE 802.11 standard.This information will be communicated to microprocessor 102 by signalmodule 306. Then, the microprocessor 102 of the mobile station 100 willinstruct the short-range communication subsystem 122 to switch from thepower saver mode to the search mode in which the short-rangecommunication subsystem 122 sends out signals to the transceivers 404 ofthe wireless network 400.

Conversely, when the mobile station 100 is no longer in the vicinity ofthe wireless network 400, then the detector 306 c will no longer detectthe presence of the magnet 410. This information will be communicated tomicroprocessor 102, which will instruct short-range communicationsubsystem 122 to shift from the search mode to the power saver mode.

Other variations and modifications of the invention are possible. Forexample, proximity indicators other than a magnet might be used. Forexample, the cradle might include components that indicate to themicroprocessor 102, when the mobile station 100 is inserted into thecradle, what the suitable communication profile is. One such proximityindicator could be provided by leads at the bottom of the cellular phonethat are normally open circuits. Connectors carefully positioned in thecradle would close some, but not all, of these circuits, therebyindicating to the cell phone that the auxiliary devices in closeproximity, and also signaling the particular communication profile touse for communication with the auxiliary device. All such modificationsor variations are believed to be within the sphere and scope of theinvention as defined by the claims appended hereto,

1. A wireless device having: a short-range transceiver for communicatingwith a second device; and a control module for controllably shifting theshort-range transceiver between a second mode and a search mode.
 2. Thewireless device as defined in claim 1, wherein the short-rangetransceiver is configured to remain inactive when in the second mode. 3.The wireless device as defined in claim 1, wherein the control module isconfigured to shift the short-range transceiver from the second mode tothe search mode in response to a user input.
 4. The wireless device asdefined in claim 1, wherein the wireless device comprises a detector fordetecting when the second device is in close proximity, and wherein thecontrol module is configured to shift the short-range transceiver fromthe second mode to the search mode when the detector detects the seconddevice in close proximity of the wireless device.
 5. The wireless deviceas defined in claim 1, wherein the control module stores at least onecommunication profile for communicating with the second device, andwherein the control module is operable to select a communication profileassociated with the second device from the at least one communicationprofile for communication with the second device.
 6. A wireless systemcomprising: a second device having a short-range communication module;and a wireless device having: a short-range transceiver forcommunicating with a second device; and a control module forcontrollably shifting the short-range transceiver between a second modeand a search mode.
 7. The wireless system as defined in claim 6, whereinthe short-range transceiver is configured to remain inactive when in thesecond mode.
 8. The wireless system as defined in claim 6, wherein aproximity indicator is located proximate to the second device forindicating proximity of the second device, and wherein the wirelessdevice comprises a detector for detecting when the proximity indicatoris in close proximity to the wireless device, and wherein the controlmodule is configured to shift the short-range transceiver from thesecond mode to the search mode when the detector detects the proximityindicator in close proximity to the wireless device.
 9. The wirelesssystem as defined in claim 6, wherein the control module is configuredto shift the short-range transceiver from the second mode to the searchmode in response to a user input.
 10. The wireless system as defined inclaim 6, wherein the control module stores at least one communicationprofile for communicating with the second device, and wherein thecontrol module is operable to select a communication profile associatedwith the second device from the at least one communication profile forcommunication with the second device.